Donald Middleton, 56, has been sentenced to life in prison for his ninth DWI.

Take a look at other Texans sentenced to life for driving drunk.

Donald Middleton, 56, has been sentenced to life in prison for his ninth DWI.

Take a look at other Texans sentenced to life for driving drunk.

Photo: Montgomery County Police Reporter

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A Houston man's ninth DWI conviction has landed him in prison for the rest of his life. He had been racking up the convictions since 1980, according to reports.

Donald Middleton, 56, had already spent at least four stints behind prison walls for his drunk driving convictions before he was arrested and charged in May 2015 for a new DWI charge in the Montgomery County area.

A Houston man's ninth DWI conviction has landed him in prison for the rest of his life. He had been racking up the convictions since 1980, according to reports.

Donald Middleton, 56, had already spent at least four stints behind prison walls for his drunk driving convictions before he was arrested and charged in May 2015 for a new DWI charge in the Montgomery County area.

While the Lone Star State may not be all that tough on DWI offenders, there are still dozens of Texans serving life sentences for the crime. See the offenders in prison for life for driving drunk.

While the Lone Star State may not be all that tough on DWI offenders, there are still dozens of Texans serving life sentences for the crime.See the offenders in prison for life for driving drunk.

Photo: Lynne Sladky, STF

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Bobby Gene Martin

was sentenced to two life terms in prison after 10 arrests for drunk driving and a retaliation threat.

Bobby Gene Martin

was sentenced to two life terms in prison after 10 arrests for drunk driving and a retaliation threat.

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Lloyd D. Clayton

- McLennan County

Lloyd D. Clayton

- McLennan County

Photo: Texas Department Of Criminal Justice

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Samuel C Gentry

- Smith County

Samuel C Gentry

- Smith County

Photo: Texas Department Of Criminal Justice

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Donald William Snyder Jr.

- Cass County

Donald William Snyder Jr.

- Cass County

Photo: Texas Department Of Criminal Justice

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Blas Jr Hernandez

- Ellis County

Blas Jr Hernandez

- Ellis County

Photo: Texas Department Of Criminal Justice

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Billy Gene Reynolds

- Johnson County

Billy Gene Reynolds

- Johnson County

Photo: Texas Department Of Criminal Justice

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Ronald Smith

- Gregg County

Ronald Smith

- Gregg County

Photo: Texas Department Of Criminal Justice

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John William Spurlock

- Leon County

John William Spurlock

- Leon County

Photo: Texas Department Of Criminal Justice

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Ventura Gonzalez Silguero

- Dallas County

Ventura Gonzalez Silguero

- Dallas County

Photo: Texas Department Of Criminal Justice

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Dudley Krisshawn Hickman

- Smith County

Dudley Krisshawn Hickman

- Smith County

Photo: Texas Department Of Criminal Justice

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Jesse Marron

- Harris County

Jesse Marron

- Harris County

Photo: Texas Department Of Criminal Justice

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Michael Wayne Craig

- Franklin County

Michael Wayne Craig

- Franklin County

Photo: Texas Department Of Criminal Justice

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Robert Eugene Elsey

- Williamson County

Robert Eugene Elsey

- Williamson County

Photo: Texas Department Of Criminal Justice

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Rose Ann Davidson

- Hays County

Rose Ann Davidson

- Hays County

Photo: Texas Department Of Criminal Justice

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Steven Knight

- Tarrant County

Steven Knight

- Tarrant County

Photo: Texas Department Of Criminal Justice

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Jerry Lee Flores

- Tarrant County

Jerry Lee Flores

- Tarrant County

Photo: Texas Department Of Criminal Justice

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Gary Hayden Gibbs

- Williamson County

Gary Hayden Gibbs

- Williamson County

Photo: Texas Department Of Criminal Justice

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Cornelio Garcia-Mata

- Comal County

Cornelio Garcia-Mata

- Comal County

Photo: Texas Department Of Criminal Justice

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Dennis Kaye Goains

- Montgomery County

Dennis Kaye Goains

- Montgomery County

Photo: Texas Department Of Criminal Justice

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Albert Jimenez

- Gaines County

Albert Jimenez

- Gaines County

Photo: Texas Department Of Criminal Justice

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Martin Dominick Dicarlo

- Williamson County

Martin Dominick Dicarlo

- Williamson County

Photo: Texas Department Of Criminal Justice

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Kenneth Wayne Glover

- Montgomery County

Kenneth Wayne Glover

- Montgomery County

Photo: Texas Department Of Criminal Justice

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George Larry Harvey

- Montgomery County

George Larry Harvey

- Montgomery County

Photo: Texas Department Of Criminal Justice

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Daniel Villa

- Lubbock County

Daniel Villa

- Lubbock County

Photo: Texas Department Of Criminal Justice

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Jerry Dale Morgan

- Hockley County

Jerry Dale Morgan

- Hockley County

Photo: Texas Department Of Criminal Justice

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Richard King Morris

- Henderson County

Richard King Morris

- Henderson County

Photo: Texas Department Of Criminal Justice

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Kenneth Chris Oneal

- Wichita County

Kenneth Chris Oneal

- Wichita County

Photo: Texas Department Of Criminal Justice

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Roland Ramirez Delgado

- Dawson County

Roland Ramirez Delgado

- Dawson County

Photo: Texas Department Of Criminal Justice

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Billy Ray Handsell

- Williamson County

Billy Ray Handsell

- Williamson County

Photo: Texas Department Of Criminal Justice

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Michael Jay Barton

- Smith County

Michael Jay Barton

- Smith County

Photo: Texas Department Of Criminal Justice

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James Plamon Mcnatt II

- Hunt County

James Plamon Mcnatt II

- Hunt County

Photo: Texas Department Of Criminal Justice

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Luis Govea

- Hays County

Luis Govea

- Hays County

Photo: Texas Department Of Criminal Justice

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Houston man gets life for 9th DWI conviction

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A Houston man's ninth DWI conviction has landed him in prison for the rest of his life. He had been racking up the convictions since 1980, according to reports.

Donald Middleton, 56, had already spent at least four stints behind prison walls for his drunken-driving convictions before he was arrested and charged in May 2015 for a new DWI charge in Montgomery County.

Even after all those run-ins with the law over drunk driving, the man still maintained a valid Texas driver's license.

He had hit a 16-year-old driver head on in the most recent incident and later fled to a nearby gas station looking for a place to hide out, according to KTRK-TV. The teenager, the son of Montgomery County Precinct Four Constable Rowdy Hayden, survived the accident.

Montgomery County Assistant District Attorney Justin Fowles told the outlet that Middleton pleaded guilty the same month as the accident, just a day before he was set to begin his trial. Judge Kathleen Hamilton sentenced him to life in prison this week.

According to the Montgomery County Police Reporter, Middleton took the stand during his sentencing proceedings and told the court that his drinking began as a freshman in high school after years of being picked on by classmates. The outlet reported that Middleton showed no remorse for his latest crash.

Middleton's girlfriend told the court later that she thought that he could be rehabilitated.

"To me there was no question that we needed to do everything that we could to ensure he wouldn't be on the roads driving with our friends, our families, our kids on the road putting everyone at risk," Fowles told reporters after the sentence was handed down.

According to Harris County court records Middleton was charged with his first DWI when he was 20 years old. He also faced charges in 1983, 1992, 1993, twice in 1997, 1999, and 2008. In 1993 he faced a separate charge of possessing crack cocaine.

Back in 1980 the punishment for DWI was a $200 fine and 60 days in jail.